[aprilthird2021]

Please read my comment again. I mentioned that physical presence is necessary but the idea expressed in the comment before mine that people who hire such priests know them well, or that it's the discernment of Hindus rather than a strict requirement which makes such priests invaluable is false.

Were their presence not required, absolutely people would turn to recorded voice as 90% of people don't know what is being said anyways

[tinuviel]

Most religious families in India have generational priests. Its a privilege to have one too as those priests can be discerning about who they provide services to. Recordings would lower whatever inconvenience families without access to a generational priest but again, its a privilege of location, having strong roots in one's own community though several generations. If you are an urban nuclear family YMMV - their needs are different and they dont care about Vak, Praana and all other aspects of Hindu prayers. The aspect of '90% of people dont't know what is being said anyways' applies to majority of people around the world accross religions.

[aprilthird2021]

> The aspect of '90% of people dont't know what is being said anyways' applies to majority of people around the world accross religions.

It does not. The majority of the world is Muslim or Christian and this does not apply to those religious rituals